Crochet Parisian Tunisian Top

I’m so excited to share with you my latest wearable crochet pattern, the Parisian Tunisian Top!

This top is a pullover style with short ruffled sleeves that make a chic statement. It’s lightweight and easy to wear and SO much fun to make!

After making the Ruffle Sleeve Cardigan, I knew I had more ruffles in my future! This time I decided to challenge myself by designing with a crochet technique I hadn’t worked with before – Tunisian Crochet.

Tunisian is kind of a cross between knitting and crochet, where you pull loops up onto your special tunisian hook (with an attached cable) in each stitch all along a row. Then you work them all back off the hook one at a time during a return pass.

If I’m losing you here, stay with me.

How to Tunisian

If you can single crochet, you can crochet tunisian – it’s really very similar! Imagine you were to work the beginning of a single crochet (insert your hook in the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop). Now you stop and move onto the next stitch. Keep going until you’ve worked all your stitches.

Now you’ll begin your return pass. Just as with normal single crochet, you’ll finish each stitch (or loop on your hook) by yarning over and pulling through 2 loops. Sound familiar? Same way you finish single crochets!

Just continue yarning over and pulling through two until you have one loop left on your hook. Deep breath, and start again.

Now, toots, you’re off to the races.

If I’ve completely lost you here, stay with me a little longer.

The video tutorial below will teach you how to crochet the Parisian Tunisian top in size Medium. Although I’ll be going over the details of this specific pattern, the first 10 minutes or so will help you grasp the tunisian crochet concept and you can fiddle with a tunisian swatch before diving into an entire garment.

Or go ahead and dive right in, it looks SO much more complicated than it is – promise!

I chose to use Lion Brand Yarn’s 24/7 Cotton yarn for this project! It’s 100% mercerized cotton and it’s spun in a chain structure (instead of a twist you’ll see with most yarns). So there is absolutely no yarn splitting and the stitch definition is out of this world you guys!

I knew I needed to use my favorite cotton for this top because although the tunisian knit stitch is beautiful, it can be a bit on the thicker side. It’s a dense stitch that is fairly warm, so I knew that cotton was the way to go for this breezy warm-weather garment. You could easily make this pattern in another worsted weight yarn (like Lion Brand’s Touch of Alpaca) for a warmer top.

I also love the stunning array of colors this top comes in, I chose to go with ecru for a classic, timeless neutral! However there are lots of jewel tones and punchy pastels that would make a surely show-stopping Parisian Tunisian Top.

 

PATTERNS I LOVE (& you should too)

1. Crochet Homemaker Gingham Throw / 2. Crochet Everyday Cardigan / 3. Crochet Le Nuage Wrap/Triangle Scarf

Check out the video tutorials below where I teach the basics of Tunisian Crochet (what you’ll need to know to start practicing the stitches quick and easy) and then the tutorial for the Medium size top start to finish – it’ll help ya no matter what size you’re making!

Lion Brand Yarn has even put together a kit to make this pattern with all the yarn you need for your size in some fun colors of 24/7 Cotton! (Somebody please go make a Parisian Tunisian top in that denim color, it’s so luxe!) You’ll get a printed copy of the pattern shipped right to your door too, and this week only this kit is 20% off – so it comes in under $20!!! I’m pretty sure you can’t buy a top this pretty for that price point, let alone enjoy making it with your own two hands.

Grab your kit by clicking here, and thank you for shopping through my link (it helps support this blog and all of it’s free content!).

PATTERN

• Get the ad-free, large print, printable PDF pattern HERE.
• Grab the Ultimate Pattern Bundle that includes 150+ patterns just like this one on sale for $20 today HERE.
• PIN this pattern to your Pinterest boards for later HERE.
• Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE.

To sum it up:

The Parisian Tunisian Top combines flirty flutter sleeves with faux-knit stitches to make up a chic piece you won’t soon forget. It fits like a glove and truly is the statement piece you need in your handmade wardrobe! Worked with simple tunisian stitches, it’s a beautiful way to try out a new crochet technique while making easy-to-wear clothes at the same time.

Materials:

–Lion Brand Yarn 24/7 Cotton in Ecru (XS: 5 skeins, S: 6 skeins, M: 6 skeins, L: 7 skeins, XL: 8 skiens, XXL: 8 skeins, XXXL: 9 skeins)

Grab the kit with everything you need for 20% OFF this week from Lion Brand HERE!

-Size J 6mm TUNISIAN crochet hook (I bought mine cheaply on Amazon Prime here)

-Stich markers

-Tape measure

(Click HERE to shop all my favorite tools!)

Gauge:

4 sts x 4 rows in Tunisian Knit Stitch = 1″

Sizing:

Bust: 28″ (XS) 32″ (S) 36″ (M) 40 ” (L) 44″ (XL) 48″ (XXL) 52″ (XXXL)
Width across back: 14″ (XS) 15″ (S) 15.5″ (M) 16.5″ (L) 17.5″ (XL) 18″ (XXL) 18″ (XXXL)
Length: 21.5″ (XS) 22″ (S) 22.5″ (M) 23″ (L) 23.5″ (XL) 24″ (XXL) 24″ (XXXL)
Armhole: 6″ (XS) 6.5″ (S) 7″ (M) 7.5″ (L) 8″ (XL) 8.5″ (XXL) 9″ (XXXL)
Sleeve Length: 5.5″ (XS) 6″ (S) 6″ (M) 6.5″ (L) 6.5″ (XL) 7″ (XXL) 7″ (XXXL)

Abbreviations:

ch – chain

fwp – forward pass

retp – return pass

tss – tunisian simple stitch

tks – tunisian knit stitch

sl st – slip stitch

sk – skip

st(s) – stitch(es)

rep – repeat

t – turn

yo – yarn over

Special Stitches:

(see video tutorial above for further instruction)

Tunisian Simple Stitch

Tss forward pass (FwP): *Insert hook from right to left behind front vertical bar (Figure 1), yarn over and pull up loop (Figure 2), leave loop on hook; repeat from * to last vertical bar at edge, pick up front and back loops of last bar to create firm edge; return pass.

Return pass (RetP): Yarn over and draw through first loop on hook, *yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook (Figure 3); repeat from * to end, ending with 1 loop on hook.

Tunisian Knit Stitch

Tks forward pass (Fwp): Skip first vertical bars, with yarn in back, *insert hook between next vertical bars under horizontal strands (Figure 1), yarn over and pull up loop, leave loop on hook; repeat from * to end, ending with 1 loop on hook; return pass.

Return pass (RetP): Yarn over and draw loop through first loop on hook, *yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook: repeat from * across (Figure 2), ending with 1 loop on hook.

Difficulty Level:

Level 3 – Intermediate

Pattern & Sizing Notes:

-For reference, model is 5’5” tall with a 39″ bust, and wearing the Parisian Tunisian Top in a size Medium.

-Sizing listed in the pattern will be in X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, Xl, 2X, and 3X listed in parenthesis such as 36 (38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) whereas Ch 36 for size XS, 38 for size S, 40 for size M, 42 for size L, 44 for size XL, 46 for size 2XL, and 48 for size 3XL. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle/highlight all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

-Each row of the written pattern accounts for the fwp and retp of that stitch whereas “Tss each stitch across” = work tts forward pass and return pass before moving on to Row 2

-This top is worked in 4 pieces. 1 each identical front and back panels, and 2 identical sleeves. All pieces are seamed together at the end.

-All sizing is fitted and based on the CYC sizing regulations. Use this guide or the measurements above to determine what size range you fall into. I would NOT size down in this pattern, if you are between sizes please size up.

-Ch sts do not count as a st throughout.

Parisian Tunisian Top

Bodice Panels:

*make 2

Ch 56 (64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104)

Rows 1-4: Tss each st across (56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104)

Rows 5-71 (73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 81): Tks each st across (56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104)

Neckline Row:

-Tks in first 18 (21, 24, 26, 29, 32, 34) sts

-Sl st in next 20 (22, 24, 28, 30, 32, 36) sts

-Tks in last 18 (21, 24, 26, 29, 32, 34) sts

*Work retp of last Tks sts (left shoulder as you look at the right side of the work)

*Continue working as follows on the left shoulder only. We’ll come back to the first set of tks sts on the right shoulder in a moment

Left Shoulder:

Row 1: Sl st in first st, Tks in remaining sts (17, 20, 23, 25, 28, 31, 33)

Row 2: Sl st in first st, Tks in remaining sts (16, 19, 22, 24, 27, 30, 32)

Row 3: Sl st in first st, Tks in remaining sts (15, 18, 21, 23, 26, 29, 31)

Row 4: Sl st in first st, Tks in remaining sts (14, 17, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30)

Rows 5-7: Tks in each st across (14, 17, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30)

Row 8: Sl st in each across (14, 17, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30)

Finish off, weave ends.

Right Shoulder:

Join yarn to last tks stitch worked on right shoulder (before sl st section of neckline)

Ch 1, complete retp to set up for remainder of right shoulder

Row 1: Tks in each st until 1 st remain, sl st in last st (17, 20, 23, 25, 28, 31, 33)

Row 2: Tks in each st until 1 st remain, sl st in last st (16, 19, 22, 24, 27, 30, 32)

Row 3: Tks in each st until 1 st remain, sl st in last st (15, 18, 21, 23, 26, 29, 31)

Row 4: Tks in each st until 1 st remain, sl st in last st (14, 17, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30)

Rows 5-7: Tks in each st across (14, 17, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30)

Row 8: Sl st in each across (14, 17, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30)

Finish off, weave ends.

Sleeves:

*make 2

Ch 84 (92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132)

Rows 1-19 (21, 21, 23, 23, 25, 25): Tks in each st across (84, 92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132)

Last Row: Sl st each st across (84, 92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132)

Finish off, weave ends.

*I like to go ahead and block the sleeves here before moving on as it makes them much easier to assemble. I always block by steaming the pieces with my favorite steamer!

Bodice Seaming:

With a long piece of spare yarn, thread your tapestry needle.

Place right sides of bodice panels together, lining up hemlines and shoulders.

Use a mattress stitch to sew up last Rows of both shoulders, weave ends.

Using a tape measure and your stitch markers, mark your designated armhole length (via the measurements above) from the top of each shoulder. Be sure to lock your stitch marker onto both panels.

Optional Hip Slit: I chose to leave the hip area of my top open with a dramatic slit up each side. This is totally optional and may be sewn closed if you like. The tummy area will be quite snug if you have wide hips like I do, so take that into consideration. It’s best if you can try your top on as you go and decide where to stop sewing based on what fits you best. I placed additional stitch markers about 6″ from the hemline

Use a mattress stitch to sew side seams from your first set of stitch markers (leaving the armhole open) to your decided seam end. I sewed until I reached my second set of stitch markers to allow for my hip slit.

Weave ends.

Sleeve Seaming:

With a very long piece of spare yarn, thread your tapestry needle.

Begin at the top of your side seam/bottom of the armhole.

Position right side of sleeve facing you with the foundation chain stitch side ready to be sewn to the armhole.

Whip stitch the bottom of the armhole to the edge foundation chain stitch.

Work the needle through the next stitch of the armhole (working along one panel of the armhole now), skip one foundation chain stitch and whip stitch through the following foundation chain stitch.

Continue repeating this last step all the way around. In essence, you have twice as many stitches along your sleeve as you do stitches along the armhole. Skip one sleeve foundation chain stitch for each armhole stitch you make.

Once you’ve worked all the way around, continue stitching to sew up the underarm of the sleeve.

Mattress stitch the sleeve panel ends together along the underarm.

Weave ends.

Pop your brand new Crochet Parisian Tunisian Top on and head out of here – you’re done!

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